BENGUELA, Angola // Egypt will defend its African Cup of Nations title in the final against Ghana after thrashing fierce rivals Algeria 4-0 in a testy semi-final yesterday.
Ghana eliminated Nigeria 1-0 in the other semifinal at Luanda to reach its first African final in 18 years.
Egypt will carry an 18-match unbeaten streak in the African Cup into Sunday's final in Luanda. There, the tournament's most successful team will try to win a third successive African final and a seventh overall.
"This is a special win," Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan said. "We all wanted a win but we didn't expect to win by four goals."
Ghana won the last of its four titles in 1982. "It's unbelievable," Ghana scorer Asamoah Gyan said. "We are a young team and not many people gave us a chance of making the final."
Algeria was the last team to beat Egypt in the African Cup, in 2004 at Tunisia, and had never lost to Egypt in the tournament. But Algeria's problems began when Rafik Halliche was sent off for his second yellow card in the 36th minute, and Hosni Abd Rabou scored from the penalty spot.
Two more Algerians would be red-carded in the second half as Egypt would add three more goals in an unexpected rout. Mohamed Zidan's 15-yard shot doubled Egypt's advantage in the 65th, then Nadir Belhadj was ejected, reducing Algeria to nine men.
Substitute Mohamed Abdel Shafy made it 3-0, followed soon after by the forced exit of Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi. Algeria and Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra said: "The level of refereeing in Africa is still very poor. We will be going to the World Cup. We will get enough time to improve."
Replacement Mohamed Gedo capped Egypt's first tournament win over Algeria with a late goal in injury time and his Cup-leading fourth goal. Gyan, Mali's Seydou Keita, Angola's Flavio and Egypt's Hassan have scored three each. Gyan's lone goal eliminated hosts Angola in the quarter-finals, and his 21st-minute header, assisted by Kwadwo Asamoah, sealed Ghana's win over Nigeria.
Nigeria, which dominated possession, created chances after Gyan's goal but Ghana responded with solid defence. Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said: "I had told my players that we were going to play to reach the final and not to produce beautiful football. Only the result matters. It's all about the result."
Ghana's Opoku Agyemang left the field in the 32nd with a leg injury, dealing a blow to a team which excelled without its core players, including Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah.
Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu said: "We didn't lose to a better side, but to a youthful and enterprising team. We were better and we paid for not making the most of our chances."
Nigeria and Algeria will meet in the third-place playoff on Saturday at Benguela.
* AP
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
